Taylor Swift wrote “august” first in the Folklore love-triangle story. The track was created alongside “cardigan” and “betty,” which together explore the fictional relationship between Betty, James, and the unnamed summer-romance character.
Swift developed the story through imagined characters and arcs rather than treating the songs as straightforward autobiographical confessionals. “august” focuses on a girl who falls for James even though he is connected to Betty, giving the album’s narrative an intentionally incomplete and emotionally complicated viewpoint.
The writing order is easy to confuse with the listener’s possible order for interpreting the plot. Fans often discuss “cardigan” first because it introduces Betty’s perspective, but Swift’s documented writing process began with “august” among these three linked songs.
The track’s imagery of salt air, sunlight, and a summer that slips away helped establish the seasonal identity that later fueled its recurring August streaming trend.